Hollywood Opts To Relax Law On Fire Detectors

HOLLYWOOD — City commissioners took preliminary steps Wednesday to relax a stringent fire-safety law that penalizes landlords for failing to maintain battery- operated smoke detectors.

Despite objections from Fire Chief Jim Ward and state Fire Marshal Dennis Dewar, commissioners recommended that landlords be given at least one warning and possibly two to repair non-functioning battery-powered detectors before they are penalized.

Commissioners also recommended that tenants instead of landlords be legally responsible for maintaining battery-operated detectors.

Tenants could be fined up to $500 and jailed for 30 days if they are held legally responsible, Ward said, but City Attorney Andrew DeGraffenreidt said he is unsure whether that is true.

Electric detectors can cost up to $100 each to install, nearly 10 times the cost of installing battery-operated units, said landlord Erzsabet Gombos.

``I think the financial impact of this current policy must be considered,`` said Commissioner John Williams, who suggested the fire code change.

``No one is trying to endanger anyone`s life, but it`s totally unfair for a landlord, who`s already operating under severe economic hardships, to be forced to rewire their entire building because one tenant may have taken a battery out of one smoke detector.``

Commissioners ordered DeGraffenreidt to draft a new law in two weeks with relaxed requirements for consideration.

Ward said he objects to giving landlords any warnings. He said landlords who abuse the ``privilege`` of being allowed battery detectors should be immediately forced to install electric detectors to guarantee the safety of occupants.

``We`ve taken a hard-line position because the law says that any system must be equal to, or better, than hard-wire electrical detectors,`` Ward said. ``Allowing landlords notices to correct violations concerns us, and it concerns the state fire marshal.``

Ward said 12 people died in apartment fires during the five years before 1979, the year smoke detectors were first required. Since then, only one person has died in an apartment fire, he said.

Dewar, speaking from his office in Tallahassee, objected to commissioners overriding the concerns of Hollywood fire inspectors.

``What is the value of a human life?`` Dewar said. ``Why should we lose people needlessly in fires because of cost considerations?

``The City Commission is clearly not the forum to determine whether to waive a fire code. The fire chief and the state Fire Marshal`s Office are the entity to interpret codes and resolve any disputes.``

Despite Dewar`s cautions, Williams and Vice Mayor Stanley Goldman said they would discuss letting landlords who think they`ve been treated unfairly appeal to city commissioners for leniency.

City Attorney DeGraffenreidt and Ward said they are unsure whether Dewar has the legal authority to stop commissioners from relaxing the smoke detector statute.

Gombos, the owner of the Fon-Du-Lac Apartments, was arrested Aug. 20 for refusing to accept a notice to appear in court for failing to install electric detectors.

City Manager James Chandler said Gombos won`t be tried because of the commission`s decision. Chandler also announced that Police Officer Richard Lohbauer, who arrested Gombos, was given a written reprimand for harassing Gombos.

What is the value of a human life? Why should we lose people needlessly in fires because of cost considerations?-- Dennis Dewar,